Wii owners to get Netflix service soon
By Barbara Ortutay |
January 14, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THIS spring, the Nintendo Wii will become the last of the three current video game consoles to get instant viewing of Netflix movies and TV shows over the Internet.
Wii owners in the United States who have a broadband connection and a Netflix subscription that costs at least US$9 a month will be able to watch those programs at no extra charge.
Nintendo Co and Netflix Inc wouldn't give an exact launch date for the service.
To watch movies through the gaming system, Wii users will need a special "instant-streaming" disc that Netflix will mail out in the spring. They will then be able to use the Wii's motion controller to navigate through their Netflix account and pick what they want to watch. This setup is similar to the way Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 currently streams Netflix programs.
Owners of Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 can also stream Netflix, but the service is only available to Xbox Live "Gold" members, who pay US$50 a year.
The Wii is a great catch for Netflix because it gives it access to the living rooms of millions of potential new subscribers. It is easily the most popular gaming console in the US with 26 million sold in the country by the end of December, according to Nintendo.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has long said his company's goal is to offer movie streaming on as many devices as possible.
Wii owners in the United States who have a broadband connection and a Netflix subscription that costs at least US$9 a month will be able to watch those programs at no extra charge.
Nintendo Co and Netflix Inc wouldn't give an exact launch date for the service.
To watch movies through the gaming system, Wii users will need a special "instant-streaming" disc that Netflix will mail out in the spring. They will then be able to use the Wii's motion controller to navigate through their Netflix account and pick what they want to watch. This setup is similar to the way Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 currently streams Netflix programs.
Owners of Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 can also stream Netflix, but the service is only available to Xbox Live "Gold" members, who pay US$50 a year.
The Wii is a great catch for Netflix because it gives it access to the living rooms of millions of potential new subscribers. It is easily the most popular gaming console in the US with 26 million sold in the country by the end of December, according to Nintendo.
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has long said his company's goal is to offer movie streaming on as many devices as possible.
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